Google has added a new feature – Hangouts tab – to the Gmail web interface as well as the app across all devices to let users see online contacts on top of the list.
Offline contacts will receive the messages when they access Gmail on web or any app. The Hangouts tab also comes with a Pin feature to let users pin their favourite contacts on top of the list. Users still using Google Talk to chat with their contacts, can check out the new Hangouts by using the ‘Try the new Hangouts’ option in the chat settings.
Google’s News and Weather app has also been revamped for users running Android 4.0 or higher. The updated version of the app can be downloaded from Google Play. The app includes an optional Google sign-in feature letting users to get personalized stories when they sign in. The support for tablet devices has been improvised too. Users also have the option to access their Google account using the slide-out navigation menu which works similar to the one in the Google Drive interface.
Google has also made available a help and feedback option where users can choose what they want or do not want to see in their personalized news stories which can be accessed from the menu on the top right corner.
The weather information will now be displayed on top of the headlines that will be expanded to give a detailed report when tapped. Users can change the location to know about the weather in multiple locations. Google has ditched the 3×1 widget and gives 2 options to choose from: 4×1 and 2×3 widgets.
